TEN people were rescued from a three storey building in Speke after a suspected arson attack.

The blaze is believed to have been started in an empty flat and then spread out of control.

Fire crews from Speke, Allerton and Belle Vale raced to Alderwood Avenue at 7.30 last night to find thick smoke billowing from the block of flats.

Two men living in the property had to climb out of a first floor window and down a fire ladder while a small boy and girl were among the other eight people – including five women and a man – who had to be led to safety down two different staircases by firefighters.

Police and fire investigators are lookIng into the cause of the fire which they said was “suspicious” with a forensic team due to take samples today.

The only evidence of the blaze this morning was a smashed window and two charred sofas left outside the flats.

A Honda car also had its windscreen smashed.

Neighbours said they were mystified by the news.

One woman said: “I was told about it last night but you can hardly see anything now.”

The row of flats which are about 200m long and three stories high are believed to be the home of many Polish families.

The flats are behind secure fencing opposite a row of mostly boarded up shops, 50 yards from the Mill House pub.

A spokeswoman for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said: “A first floor flat was damaged by fire and smoke and three further flats were severely damaged by smoke.”